Trousdale County High School - Stepping Stone Yearbook (Hartsville, TN)

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STEPPING STONE CLASS HISTORY Far away, on a little island, which was once occupied by the Germans, but now is in the hands of the Americans, were two of the Senior boys from T. C. H. S., of the class of 1945. It was a very lone- some place for these two boys, and they saw a little hut in the far distance where they decided they would go. They wanted to visit the family there and find out the kind of life that these folks lived. As they approached the house, they felt very heartsick, for the family was composed of only the mother and three small children. The father had been killed in battle. They were given a hearty welcome and the three children seemed very happy to see them. The mother told of the hardships that they had suffered trying to save their little home. Then the children begged for a story from the boys. They agreed to tell them one, and the mother requested that they tell about the American system of education. One of the boys, who was growing fond of the youngest child, took him on his knee and began the story of his four years in high school. I will start by going back to the 'good old days,' when a group of sixty-two began making footprints on the clay of the old hilltop at T. C. H. S., in the fall of 1940, as Freshmen. We gathered in the high school gymnasium, wondering who would be our sponsor for the year: as Mr. I. C. Pullias. our prin- cipal, announced that the girls would follow Miss Katherine Cox to the Home Economics room and the boys, Miss Laura Owen to her respective room there came some queer looks on some of the pu- pils' faces, for we all wanted to start our journey together: but with Miss Cox and Miss Owen as our captains, we got off to a good start. We flew through the storm of Algebra, holding our breaths and trying to obsorb those X's in our brains, but they just seemed too hard to soak in well. However, a good many did somehow get through. It also seems as if I can still hear the girls commenting on Miss Cox for making them use a thimble. It seemed as if they were determined not to use one. We started our activities by a party, which was greatly enjoyed by all, and others events were: The boys' initiation into the Future Farmers organization and the girls' initiation into the Home Economics Club. Some of our boys and girls began to drop out, and as I remember, they were: Evelyn Beal, Paul Watson, Marvin Belcher, Thelma Wright, Bonnie McClanahan, Dorothy McClanahan, Mary D. Fisher, and Sara Lou Eden. Thus ended our first year in high school. A three-months' pause and we were renamed-Sophomores this time. It gave us a thrill to be called such, after bearing all the burdens and suffering the persecutions played by the role of a Freshman. We were given Miss Margaret Smith, with her sweet smiles as our captain this time: and she was a won- derful leader and instructor. We all hoped that we would pull through our Sophomore year with high marks. This semester we were determined to raise money for the many things that we would need it for later on. So we sponsored a few shows and several other things which put us up in the world all right. We were now becoming well represented in the extra-curricular activities of both football and ..21..

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CLASS HONORS MARY FRANCES BROOKS Vuledictorian TRAVIS MORGAN Salutcttoricm DORIS ANN OGLESBY Testcttor ALICE GOTHARD Prophet MARIORIE DUNCAN Soloist MARTHA FRANCES CORNWELL Philosopher DOROTHY CARR Giftoricm LOUISE HUFFINES Historian LOIS MCMURRY Poet IUANITA BEAL Reader

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ire 1 11 A . STEPPING STONE r ,r r basketball. It was also during this semester that the Tennesse Maneuvers began. It became very difficult for us to carry on with our school, but with a struggle, we carried on. It was especially hard to keep our girls interested in their work, and it was thought we might lose several of them: but, lucky us--we just lost one, Virginia Key. She married in the Autumn of 1944. We also lost, due to other reasons, several other students this semester. These included: I. W. McCormack, Mary Elice McCor- mack, Royce Howell, Ben Taylor, Howard Sloan, and Lewis Oldham. In the fall of 1943, we began our third flight, calling ourselves by the name of Iuniors. We knew our tasks would be more difficult, but we had a new captain this year, Miss Troye Moore, and her influ- ence over us makes us proud of our class. Then came the Iunior-Senior banquet, perhaps the most im- portant event of the year, and toward which both classes had looked and planned. It was very suc- cessfully carried out, and we made quite a gracious host. The gymnasium, which was the scene of the banquet was decorated with red, white, and blue. In the spring of that semester, the little love bug came into our midst and bit Ada McCormack, whom we greatly missed. Others members we lost that year were: Benton Williams, I. C. Linville, Russell Wright, Dresslar Duncan, Rex Ford, and Lounetta Davis. Thus ended the third year of our high school. During the following three months' vacation, we got our rings and when we did, we knew we were up in the world. Now we come to the final quarter, the fourth year. Ah! Seniors, we were! And justly proud were we of the name. We had worked and struggled for the past three years of experience. At times, it had seemed almost hopeless, yet through the untiring efforts of our efficient staff of captains, we have been able to make a touchdown against the problems of life. We had just begun our Senior year, when Thomas Linville was inducted into Uncle Sam's Armed Forces. Mildred Nunley, who had married during our vacation, and also Virginia Key, retumed with us to make our final effort, but within a month or two, they left to be with their husbands. This left thirty-three of us to finish our task. Miss Rachel Dalton, our sweet and patient sponsor, was a great help to us during our Senior year. We appreciated her untiring interest in us and the help she was to us in publishing the 19th Volume of the Stepping Stone. Our principal, Mr. I. C. Pullias, worked very hard with us. It was to him we expressed our most sincere thanks for his patience, interest, and his leadership. We will never forget the history classes that he guided us through. How grateful we still are! We are proud of the record behind us and have left it as a model to oncoming Senior Classes, with hopes that they might strive to accomplish as much or even more. ' As the boy finished his story, the eldest child looked up at his mother and said, Mom, I hope some day I can go to a school like that. -LOUISE HUFFINES. ..22.... - -.- .-- L